LEWISTON — A team made up of members from several Lewiston organizations was awarded a $375,000 grant last week aimed at addressing economic disparities in the Lewiston-Auburn region.

The Lewiston-Auburn group — with representatives from Gateway Community Services, Community Concepts, Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, the LA Metro Chamber of Commerce, Lewiston schools, and more — was one of six to win Maine’s Working Communities Challenge, an initiative supported by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

The six awards were announced last week from 22 applications representing all 16 Maine counties, each forwarding proposals that look to address local economic problems in rural areas, including “poverty and lack of work opportunity.”

According to a news release, the goal of the Lewiston-Auburn effort is “to build, support, enhance and sustain a culture of opportunity, equity and inclusion,” including work to address “wealth gaps, catalyze economic growth and increase opportunity among the marginalized communities of Lewiston Auburn, especially Black, indigenous, People of Color youth, immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, and U.S.-born African Americans.”

Gov. Janet Mills’ administration announced the awards Friday after Maine joined the Working Communities Challenge in 2020.

“The Challenge is bringing together the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Maine state government, private sector businesses, and community-based organizations to tackle the toughest issues our rural communities face and to strengthen them for years to come,” Mills said in a statement. “I am proud to support this initiative through my Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, thank everyone for their collaborative work, and look forward to seeing the excellent work accomplished as a result of these grants.”

Two members of the team representing Gateway Community Services shared the news on social media over the weekend, including former Lewiston City Councilor Safiya Khalid, who said the funding will help bring the team’s vision to life.

“Honored to be part of these amazing leaders making important changes to our community,” she said.

Other teams receiving the grants represent Greater Bangor, the Katahdin region, the Maine Highlands, Washington County and the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Sagadahoc County.